A computational framework for evaluating an edge-integrated, multi-ramp construction model of the Great Pyramid of Giza | npj Heritage Science - Nature

Off the coast of a Japanese island so far west that it’s actually closer to Taiwan, it’s possible to see hundreds of hammerhead sharks battling ripping currents around 35 metres deep. That is, if you’re a very experienced diver visiting between November and early May. But not everyone comes for the scalloped hammerheads. Some divers visit this remote destination to swim through the inky blue waters past mysterious blocks of towering rock that look like they could have been plonked there by a giant playing with Lego.

More than 99% of the US population lives under light-polluted skies, according to a 2016 study published in Science Advances. With streetlights, brightly lit parking lots, arenas, and passing headlights brightening the night, it can be easy to forget how dark the sky actually is and how many stars appear when you get away from populated areas. Seeing that many stars for the first time can make you pause and remember where you truly are. You are on a rock spinning through space, surrounded by a universe filled with stars, planets, and galaxies larger than anything you can imagine. A remote mountain excursion can combine a dark sky encounter with a day of hiking and sightseeing. After sunset, bright stars emerge above the slopes and ridgelines. These American mountains lie within officially designated dark sky locations that protect natural darkness and the views of the universe it reveals. In northeastern New Mexico, Capulin Volcano sits among volcanic cones, mesas, and buttes in one of the darker areas of the lower 48 states. These landforms help shield the night sky from distant lights, while the rugged terrain has discouraged development in the area.